From what I've read, the Texas law enacted in 2007 places fines and criminal penalties for anyone working on a computer who conducts "and investigation" on that computer without a valid Private Investigator's license. Their definition of what constittutes an investigation is so broad that common diagnostic tasks could fall into the definition of an investigation. Not only is the repair technician subject to fines and criminal penalties, but the computer OWNER is also subject to the same charges for knowingly using an unlicensed technician.

There is at least one group challenging the law in court, so it will be interesting to see what comes of this in the long run. Considering the EDS has offices and a major call center in Plano, Texas, and that they do phone support for PC issues to many of their Fortune 100 customers, I don't expect this law to survive a legal challenge. But, that's just my opinion, I've been wrong before.

John A. Resotko
Head of Systems Administration
Michigan State University College of Law
208 Law College Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300
email: [log in to unmask]
Phone: 517-432-6836
Fax: 517-432-6861